10+ Windows XP keyboard shortcuts to speed everyday tasks

How expansive is your repertoire of Windows XP keyboard shortcuts? A lot of users learn a handful of shortcuts but turn their backs on a host of other ones that could come in handy. Check out the selection of shortcuts below and see if there aren't a couple you didn't know about that could be saving you some real time.

In the active window, this brings up the corner dialog box for Move, Size, Minimize, Maximize, or Close

Shift + Insert a CD/DVD

Inserts a CD/DVD without triggering Autoplay or Autorun

Shift + Delete

Permanently deletes an item (rather than sending it to the Recycle Bin)

Ctrl + Shift + Esc

Opens the Windows Task Manager

Ctrl + drag an icon

Copies that item

Ctrl + Shift + drag an icon

Creates a shortcut for the item

Right-click + drag an icon

Brings up a menu to copy, move, or create a shortcut for the item

F1

Opens Windows XP Help

F2

Highlights the label of a selected item for renaming

F3

Opens Windows search for files and folders

F5 (or Ctrl + R)

Refreshes an Internet Explorer page or other window

F6

Cycles through the elements that can be selected in a screen or window

F10

Selects the menu bar in the active program (usually the File menu) so that you can use the arrow keys to navigate through the menus and the Enter key to display one

Shift + F10

Displays a shortcut menu for an item (like right-clicking with the mouse)

Ctrl + Esc

Opens the Start menu

Roll your own shortcut

You can also create custom Windows XP shortcuts. Just right-click on the icon of a program or program shortcut, choose Properties, click the Shortcut tab, and enter a keystroke combination in the Shortcut Key field. Windows will let you assign only key combos that aren't already taken.